Carcinogenic dust found in Davenport

DAVENPORT, Oct 04, 2008 (Santa Cruz Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- APCR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- High levels of a cancer-causing chemical agent known as chromium 6 were detected in the air at the elementary school and fire department in Davenport during tests conducted by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District this summer.

Chromium 6, the contaminant that inspired the movie "Erin Brockovich," is present in rocks, limestone and other natural matter, and has been known to cause cancer after long-term human exposure.

The toxic substance is believed to originate from dust at Cemex, the nearby cement factory.

Results of the air monitoring -- conducted June 10 to Aug. 5 -- were released from the air district this week to county officials.

"It's been going on for a few years," said Ed Kendig of the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, which oversees air quality in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. "We're going to find out exactly how long and determine exposure because time of exposure matters."

The levels of chromium 6 measured eight times the air district's acceptable level at Pacific Elementary School and 10 times at the Davenport Fire Department. Both are located less than a half-mile from Cemex.

The average risk of cancer is 83 in 1 million at the school and 102 per million at the fire department, Kendig said. The probability of contracting cancer is based on a person being continuously exposed to the emissions for 70

years, he said.

County Environmental Health Department officials say they don't have any statistics or anecdotal evidence that show the number of cancer cases in Davenport compared with other parts of Santa Cruz County. They are not aware of any increased incidents of cancer in the area.

"We've already started looking at that data and we're not seeing any differences," county health Division Director Steve Schneider said Friday. "The only data we have is countywide. We're trying to drill down and get more precise data."

Kendig said Cemex employees have been cooperative in working with the air district to remedy the problem.

"It's very clear they're taking this very seriously," Kendig said. "No decision has been made by the district in pursuing any enforcement action against Cemex."

Cemex's long history

The Cemex plant, located on the North Coast for more than 100 years, has been shut down for several weeks due to limited demand for cement in the marketplace. Company officials say they won't restart the plant, regardless of cement demand, until low chromium materials such as iron are found for local production.

Cemex officials suspect the source of the chromium 6 is mill scale and steel slag, two ingredients in cement known for high chromium content.

Cemex cement is stored in silos, not in outdoor piles like cement factories in other areas.

Company spokeswoman Jennifer Borgen said that means the chromium 6-laced dust was likely blown from open doors and trucks carrying cement.

"We've developed an immediate action plan and when we restart the plant we'll suspend the use of mill scale and steel slag," Borgen said Friday. "Cemex is committed to the highest safety standards in its operations. Our manager and employees work and live in this community and we are committed to keeping it safe."

Cemex is a worldwide company with more than 120 employees in Davenport. Some Davenport employees were medically tested for various contaminants in August, and were found to be clear of chromium 6, Borgen said. Such testing is routine for Cemex employees, she said.

Borgen said chromium 6 has not been detected at any of the company's other 13 cement plants across the country.

New testing

The local air district was prompted to test the air in Davenport after high levels of chromium 6 were linked to a cement plant in Riverside earlier this year.

Air district officials set up vacuum pump monitors at the school and fire department, unbeknownst to Cemex or the community, to find out if the same thing was happening locally, Kendig said.

The pump captured tiny, breathable particles from the air and attached them to a filter. The filter was sent to a laboratory in El Monte in Southern California for chromium 6 testing, and the unacceptable levels were discovered on Tuesday, Kendig said.

The detection at Cemex is the first chromium 6 discovery in the tri-county region in recent memory, Kendig said.

County Supervisor Neal Coonerty said the finding is "obviously of great concern," and he's called for various reports and actions from the air district, Cemex, county Planning Department officials and others to correct the situation and prevent a recurrence.

The matter will be addressed at the Board of Supervisors meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Pacific Elementary School has called a special board meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday. The public is invited to attend and voice concerns and listen to officials from the air district, Cemex and the county talk about the situation.

"Right now, there's no fear for the children being allowed to play outside," Principal Sharon Smith said. "But we still have big questions and concerns. My first concern is our children and our staff."

Another community meeting regarding chromium 6 is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Pacific Elementary School.

Contact Shanna McCord at 429-2401 or smccord@santacruzsentinel.com.

What is chromium 6?

Chromium is found in many natural materials.

High-chromium content materials such as rocks and limestone can create chromium 6 when heated up to high temperatures.

During cement production, a 3,500-degree oven turns raw material to clinker, a rock that gets crushed to make cement.

Extreme heat in the kiln can cause oxidation and convert chromium to chromium 6.

Besides cement production, the toxic metal is often used in metal plating, the aerospace industry, stainless steel processing and dye manufacture.

SOURCES: Cemex and the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District

Chromium 6

Community meetings

WHEN: 9 a.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Board of Supervisors chamber,

701 Ocean St. Santa Cruz.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday.

WHERE: Pacific Elementary School, Davenport.

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14.

WHERE: Pacific Elementary School, Davenport.

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